Activcard Unveils Activcard Identity Management System

Product Developed For U.S. Department Of Defense Makes It Easier To Deploy Digital Identities Across The Enterprise

Microsoft® Corporation Adopts AIMS To Manage Employee Smart Card ID Program

FREMONT, CA – September 23, 2002 – ActivCard® (NASDAQ: ACTI/NASDAQ Europe: ACTI), the leader in IDentity Management (IDM) software and solutions, today introduced ActivCard Identity Management Systemâ„? (AIMS), the first product line of powerful multi-tiered software designed to manage the complete lifecycle of multi-function identity smart cards – from issuance to termination – including the credentials and applications on them.

AIMS is designed for the IT departments of mid-sized and large organizations who need to improve network security while reducing IT spending. By integrating with existing user identity infrastructure components, AIMS minimizes the time and costs associated with maintaining and supporting a digital identity infrastructure. ActivCard is the only company that provides an end-to-end enterprise identity management solution that manages all of the multiple digital identities associated with each respective user in an organization. Employees use a variety of credentials to access different corporate services. AIMS allows companies to easily issue and manage security tokens, smart cards, credentials (PKI and SKI), passwords, biometrics and even custom data and card applications through AIMS’ single, integrated Web interface.

Today, ActivCard also announced that Microsoft has adopted and deployed AIMS at its Redmond campus and has already enrolled and issued over 25,000 smart card employee IDs. Microsoft employees now use their smart ID badges to access company networks locally and remotely supported by a strong authentication infrastructure.

“Issuing and managing smart card IDs without a central management system is like selling someone a car that can never be repaired, refueled or maintained. When the vehicle needs service, you have to buy a new car,” said Ed MacBeth, senior vice president of marketing, ActivCard. “AIMS provides the provisioning and ongoing maintenance features required for successful smart card-based ID deployments.”

AIMS automates many of the maintenance features of the smart card allowing companies to recoup the cost of the card and the issuance by eliminating help desk calls. An average enterprise help desk gets 1.2 calls per end user per month. Typical problems like password reset or PIN unlock cost an average of $17-20 and take about 7.5 minutes each, according to Gartner Group . AIMS reduces the number and cost of corporate help desk calls through a variety of user self-service functions. AIMS also offers productivity benefits by consolidating and managing multiple credentials on one card – for workstation and network login, email encryption, digital signatures, remote access and single sign-on – all with a familiar ATM-like experience for the user.

AIMS is based on a technology platform currently licensed and implemented at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to manage its deployment of 4.3 million smart card-based IDs known as the Common Access Card (CAC), the world’s largest deployment of multi-application smart card-based ID badges. The DoD is currently issuing 8,500 badges per day using the system at over 650 locations around the world. These new CAC badges include both physical and logical access capabilities, PKI-based digital signature and encryption applets, and personal demographic information.

AIMS is based on open standards and is interoperable with leading smart cards, certificate authorities and LDAP directories. Two different editions are available, depending on the size and requirements of the organization:

ActivCard Identity Management Systemâ„?-Standard Edition is for mid-size organizations that need to implement a standard set of security functions for smart cards and tokens. It is an “out-of-the-box” product optimized for Windows® environments.

ActivCard Identity Management Systemâ„?-Enterprise Edition is designed for larger organizations that need a scalable platform. Leveraging the enhanced security benefits of the Java Card and Global Platform standards, AIMS provides advanced post-issuance management capabilities. For example, with AIMS-Enterprise it is possible to add additional applications including e-cash, employee health benefits and records, loyalty programs, entitlement programs, payment systems and other services. The system is scalable, so that a company can start small and grow to hundreds of thousands of users.

AIMS is part of a complete ActivCard IDM solution that includes ActivCard Goldâ„? middleware software that enables client authentication methods, including one-time-use dynamic passwords (SKI), PKI and biometrics. The IDM solution may include the ActivCard Applet Suite on the card for credential management, Trinityâ„? single sign-on software, and ActivPackâ„? AAA Server for remote access.

To contact ActivCard about AIMS solutions or to obtain pricing information please call: 1.800.529.9499 to speak with a direct sales person. Additional information is available on our website: www.activcard.com/activ/products/infrastructure/aims_e.

About AIMS
AIMS is a Web-based, distributed, centrally-managed solution enabling cost-effective deployment of smart cards anytime, anywhere in the world. A true end-to-end solution, AIMS addresses three critical elements of smart card deployments in a streamlined, automated, highly-secure process:

Issuance – Bind smart cards to users; initialize applets and personalize Personal Identification Numbers (PIN); generate Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) keys and retrieve PKI certificates and other data, including Symmetric Key Infrastructure (SKI) credentials; and manage the printing of cards.
Post-issuance – Complete card content management, including credential renewals and updates of data and applets; self service and help desk functions used for unlocking cards and issuing temporary and replacement cards; logistics and inventory management, ensuring that only authorized cards are issued; secured auditing and reporting, to record and report all transactions related to the cards and their contents.
Administration – Configuration with directory services and certificate authorities, and managing roles and policies requirements for large smart card deployments.

About ActivCard

ActivCard is the leader in IDentity Management (IDM) software. Our scalable IDM and strong authentication solutions are trusted by organizations – from enterprise to governments around the world. ActivCard IDM systems deliver maximum Return On Identityâ„? (ROI) through increased security, reduced cost, and user convenience. The modular product design allows our customers to add capabilities as required, preserving their investment.

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with fluctuations in operating results, our history of losses, the concentration of our customer base, our reliance on strategic relationships, acquisitions and managing the Company’s future growth, and other risks identified in the Company’s periodic filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those appearing under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ActivCard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.